Are “dyslexic thinking skills” key in the age of AI?
Originally posted on The Horizons Tracker.
As artificial intelligence reshapes the workplace, a global charity and a major recruitment firm are making a case for rethinking how companies hire. Made By Dyslexia and Randstad Enterprise argue that it’s time to move away from traditional credentials and focus instead on capabilities, especially those that machines can’t replicate.
Their joint report, Intelligence 5.0 Spotlight: Why Dyslexic Thinking is the Human Skillset Every Business Needs1, points to a growing gap between what AI can do and what businesses still need from people. While algorithms excel at pattern recognition and data crunching, they fall short on creativity, big-picture thinking, and complex problem-solving—all strengths commonly found in dyslexic thinkers.
The case for change is not just theoretical. Drawing on global skills data and the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report2, the study highlights a rising demand for uniquely human abilities across all industries. Yet hiring systems often overlook candidates with dyslexia, in part because recruitment processes still focus heavily on formal qualifications and conventional assessments.
Plugging the gap
To address this, Made By Dyslexia and Randstad have launched a free online training course: Hiring Dyslexic Thinking Talent3. Hosted on DyslexicU—the “University of Dyslexic Thinking,” in partnership with The Open University—it offers practical tools for identifying and supporting dyslexic strengths. The course features advice from major employers such as HSBC, Cisco, GCHQ, and Virgin.
“The skills every workplace needs right now—creativity, problem-solving, big-picture thinking—are Dyslexic Thinking skills,” says Kate Griggs, founder of Made By Dyslexia. “They’re also the ones AI can’t replace.”
Mike Smith, CEO of Randstad Enterprise, agrees: “We’re seeing the same demand everywhere. But today’s hiring systems often miss these capabilities. It’s time to change that.”
In a labour market increasingly shaped by automation, hiring for human strengths is not just a matter of fairness—it may be the smartest move a company can make.
Article source: Are “Dyslexic Thinking Skills” Key In The Age Of AI?
Header image source: Rob Hobson on Unsplash.
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